While most people are prone to chapped lips in the winter, it can happen at any time of year and for a number of reasons. Because of this, the skin on the lips is particularly susceptible to environmental stresses, like the wind, cold weather and sun damage, Stevenson says. Here is everything you need to know about protecting your lips from the elements, and helping them heal when they do get chapped. While environmental factors largely contribute to chapped lips, some lifestyle habits and health conditions can also affect the moisture in this delicate area.
According to Stevenson, irritation from fragrances and flavors in lip products, yeast overgrowth, having a thyroid disorder, irritable bowel disease or autoimmune disorders, and even taking certain medications can cause dry, chapped lips. Some nutrient deficiencies have also been linked to dry, chapped lips. For instance, deficiencies in iron, vitamin B and folic acid have been associated with angular cheilitis , a common skin condition marked by fissures, scaling or crusting in the corners of the mouth.
Stevenson also says that dental work and having allergies can affect your lips. Stevenson and Marchbein stress the importance of protecting your lips from the sun daily because sun damage can happen at any time, even on a rainy, cloudy day. In the summer, you can get dry, chapped lips from extended exposure to UV rays, which can also put you at risk for actinic keratosis , a precancer that forms on the face, lips, ears and scalp.
Unlike melanoma which is usually characterized by unusual moles, lumps and markings, actinic keratosis appears as small, dry, scaly or crusty patches of skin, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. These patches of skin can be red, light, dark tan, white, pink or flesh-toned and can be flat or raised. Actinic keratosis that forms in the lips is known as actinic cheilitis. To help protect your lips, Stevenson recommends wearing a lip balm with a minimum of SPF 30 every day before applying makeup.
The best way to treat dry, chapped lips is using a gentle lip scrub and a lip balm that seals in moisture. Ives Juicy Watermelon Lip Scrub because watermelon is known for hydration. Marchbein and Stevenson also say that you can use a humidifier in your bedroom at night to help moisten the air. Lastly, you want to avoid picking off flaky, dry skin. She also recommends holding off wearing lip glosses, lipsticks and stains and lip plumpers until your lips have completely healed.
Using these products can contribute to more irritation and dryness in this delicate area. When it comes to choosing the best lip balms for chapped lips, Stevenson says the most important thing is to avoid products with fragrances and flavors because they can irritate the skin even more. Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.
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This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. Chapped lips: What's the best remedy? Products and services. I seem to have chapped lips all winter. Is there anything I can do to prevent or treat chapped lips?
Answer From Lawrence E. With Lawrence E. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Goldsmith LA, et al. Cold injuries. New York, N. Accessed March 9, Dry skin relief. American Academy of Dermatology. Dehydration is a major culprit when it comes to chapped lips. People may not notice when they are slightly dehydrated, so it is a good idea to make a habit of drinking water throughout the day.
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. When the body is dehydrated, it pulls water from certain areas to ensure that the cells stay hydrated. This can cause dryness in the skin, including that of the lips.
Spending too much time in dry air can remove moisture from the skin. This is a particularly common issue in winter. Drinking plenty of water is a good way to keep the body well-hydrated all year round. However, people may want to consider using a humidifier during the winter to add some much-needed moisture back into the air.
Tobacco smoke can irritate the sensitive skin around the lips, causing them to dry out and become more likely to crack. People may notice that chapped lips clear up shortly after they stop smoking, as the skin begins to heal. People often do not notice how much they touch or play with their lips — they tend to lick, chew, and even pull on their lips without even thinking about it.
While it may be hard to resist peeling dry, flaky skin from the lips, people run the risk of removing healthy skin in the process.
This can prolong healing times and even cause bleeding. The skin on the lips is different from that on the rest of the face. While the underlying structures are similar, the skin on the lips is much thinner and more delicate. Unlike the skin that covers the rest of the body, the skin on the lips does not have oil glands and so cannot produce moisture.
A range of external factors can cause the lips to become chapped. Controlling these factors can help treat and prevent chapped lips or stop them from getting worse:. Humidity levels tend to decline as the temperature cools in the fall and the winter months. Dry air draws moisture from the skin, which is why people often experience chapped lips during colder periods of the year. While licking may temporarily moisten the lips, this habit can make matters worse. As the saliva evaporates, it pulls moisture from the surface of the lips.
Some lip balms, lipsticks, and similar products contain ingredients that can make dry lips worse. People may have allergies to some common ingredients in lip products, especially pigments or fragrances. Using a lip product that contains an allergen can cause the lips to become dry, red, and chapped.
Sun damage can also result in a condition called actinic keratoses, which causes crusty bumps to form on the lips. These bumps are not life-threatening, but they can become cancerous, so people should get them removed as soon as possible. Certain medications, such as antihistamines, chemotherapies, and diuretics, can cause dehydration as a side effect.
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